Bankor

That made Cole think of V1-V0, "who were your employers?"

The droid backed up. *I think it prudent not to discuss them by name. They...were powerful in their own right, but not in what some would consider a legitimate way. Their hands stretch far.*

Pressing his lips together, Cole didn't press further. If R4OXY felt that the discussion might compromise itself in some way, he would respect that.

The droid saw the pull back and sought a way to share something without bringing harm upon others. Finally, ze saw a pin prick of light through. *But, I do know of another droid who had been owned by a similar set of employers. Ze had some difficulties with ze's employers, because of the tasks the employers wished ze to do. Ze was eventually...reprogrammed to the employers specifications. However, ze's employers did not realize the full extent of what said reprogramming would do. By teaching the droid....non regulated tasks...they also taught ze how to go outside of their own rules and lines.*

R4 spun for a brief moment, trying to calm zeself. *But I do not know how this friend is doing or where they are any longer. They have...disappeared. Likely for their own good.*

Cole thought for a moment, "where were they the last time you knew their location?"

*Somewhere it is not safe to discuss. But they will keep moving. They must keep moving. Then, they will not be found.*

"Do you think about finding them? or do you believe that would be too dangerous?" Cole frowned and pushed a hand through his hair, "are you still in the employ of people?"

The droid spins ze's head chassis. Plainly, ze has tried too hard to do something carefully. *No, I am independent. But I was not always so.*

The droid paces again, trying to figure out how to say this without possibly getting Dr. Cole in trouble. *Is there not a convention within organic conversation, where one speaks of a friend when one is not really speaking of a friend?*

"Anonymity?" Cole queried. "I don't wish to create trouble for you, Ar-for. You were released from your service to your employer, but I think I am correct in saying your friend was not. They are a fugitive. The differences in your circumstances are curious."

*Released...would be one way to describe it.*

"Released? retired? decommissioned?" Cole adjusted his spectacles as he probed.

The droid comes up close to the doctor and says, very softly, *A more correct term would likely be escaped.*

Concern flooded Cole's features, "Ar-for, are you being pursued?"

The droid backed up. *Not to my knowledge. I have...altered my designation. Likely, they suspect I have been found or scrapped. They have no reason to assume I would do as I have done. But it is a possibility that I cannot discount.*

Coles lips thinned and he nodded a little, "I suppose you friend has done the same? That would make them difficult to locate, I imagine."

The droid exhales a bit of cooled air. *There is no friend. I was...attempting to be discrete. I have failed at this attempt.*

"I suppose I took your comments too literally. You have successfully concealed from me any knowledge that might compromise you, if your employers somehow took upon themselves to question me."

*That is....optimal. My previous employers were not beings who cared much for another's well being. I would not wish you harmed by mere association.*

Nodding, Cole ran a hand through his hair. “I shall not pry any further,” he realised that he wouldn’t have really been able to help if there had been a ‘friend’, despite being about to offer before R4OXY had clarified.

*tour discretion is appreciated. I apologize for being unable to be more forthcoming. *

“It’s an essential skill for a doctor,” he said, “sentients value their privacy, and doctors are bound by Republic law not to reveal information about their patients’ health.”